Tap, tap, tap.

In the capital, Akkia’s study. Akkia, sitting at the desk with his chin propped up, was regularly striking the desk with his pen.

After a while of sitting like that, Likel, who had been dozing off nearby, approached the duke cautiously.

“Um, Your Grace…”

“What is it?”

Without turning his head at Likel’s call, Akkia answered curtly. The duke had been in this state for days.

Something happened at the Bellerus family’s party. Countless times a day, he would find himself lost in thought, unable to focus on his work.

Likel sighed softly at the sight of the half-distracted duke and handed him a crumpled paper.

“Here’s the report on the person you asked to investigate.”

As soon as those words were finished, Akkia, who had raised his head sharply, took the document. He then skimmed through the paper with a stern gaze.

“Edward Allensia? The son of the Allensia family?”

“Yes. As you know, the Allensia family has maintained a close relationship with Bellerus for a long time. Moreover, Young Master Allensia was dispatched as the administrator of Vialytskal at the recommendation of Lord Bellerus.”

At the mention of ‘recommended by Bellerus,’ Akkia’s eyebrows narrowed.

“He briefly stayed at the Bellerus mansion before the dispatch. Also, it seems Young Master studied herbal medicine at the academy, becoming close with Lady Bellerus.”

“Tsk.”

Akkia, who tossed the report onto the desk, clicked his tongue in irritation. It was undoubtedly Lord Bellerus taking advantage of the gap between himself and Lea, attaching another young man.

‘Where did he find such a naive guy…’

Akkia swept back his neatly combed hair roughly. The memory of that day lingered in his mind like a scar.

Lea, dancing amiably with a man she had never seen before.

‘Why am I going through all this because of her?’

He was irritated.

He had been immersed in work, counting the days to be with Lea as soon as possible. It was just for a moment, to see her face from a distance, that he attended the party.

To see Lea dilly-dallying with another guy. As the memory of that moment came back, Akkia sneered involuntarily.

“I, but…”

Unaware of the duke’s feelings, Likel brought up another topic.

“What is it?”

“The investigation into his activities in the capital reveals that he spent almost all his time locked up in the laboratory.”

“So what?”

‘What does it matter whether he’s doing research or chopping wood.’

When Akkia was about to dismiss it indifferently.

“However, he was with Lady Bellerus almost all the time there.”

“…”

“Moreover, they don’t come out until sunset if they go in once in the morning…”

Crackle!

In response to Likel’s continued words, the fountain pen Akkia was holding broke.

“Mi-Milord! Are you okay!?”

Likel quickly pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Akkia. However, Akkia, without even looking at the handkerchief presented in front of him, asked.

“What did you say?”

“Uh?”

“Say that again.”

“The, they spent the entire day together…!”

“Stop.”

Akkia interrupted Likel, signaling him not to say anything more.

‘In the laboratory all day.’

A bitter laugh didn’t even come out. Locked up in such a confined space, just the two of them until late at night.

Not just for a day, but every day!

Although Edward’s laboratory was not small, with a spacious terrace attached. For Akkia, there was no way he could accept it.

“And one more thing to report…”

Likel, suppressing the desire to resign on the spot, brought up the last report, holding back her emotions.

“What now?”

“Today, there’s a masked ball at the Romanov Viscount’s residence…”

“A masked ball? Why all of a sudden?”
“That… the lady is attending there today.”

Bang!

The emotions he had held back until now collapsed like a flood. Akkia, as if he could no longer endure it, pushed the chair back and stood up.

“…Where is Lea going?”

“T-to the masked ball at the Romanov Viscount’s residence.”

‘Ha. Fine.’

He could understand, even after giving a hundred concessions, that being close to Allensia Viscount Youngsik was understandable. If that guy, whether Edward or Edmund, majored in herbal medicine, it made sense for them to collaborate on research.

‘But, what?’

“Masked ball?”

Did she even know where she was going? He nervously loosened the tie that had been tightening around his neck.

Akkia couldn’t bear to watch this situation any longer. After making up his mind, Akkia left the study with determined steps.

Watching the duke’s back in a daze, Likel asked, “Your Grace? Where are you going now?”

“Of course.”

Akkia, who had stopped in his tracks as he was about to leave the study, twisted one corner of his mouth.

“I have to catch the runaway cat.”

“Yes?”

With that statement, Akkia disappeared in an instant. Left alone in the study, Likel muttered absentmindedly, “Then who’s going to handle this work…?”

The tasks that needed immediate attention were piled up like a mountain. With a desolate and lonely voice, the stacks of documents on the desk fluttered.